Prime Highlights
- Saudi Arabia ranks first in the Middle East for digital government services for the fourth straight year, scoring 99 percent in the 2025 GEMS index.
- Riyadh is named headquarters of the Global Digital Government Center in partnership with the United Nations, cementing the Kingdom’s digital leadership.
Key Facts
- Saudi Arabia scores perfect marks in service availability and public access, with 99 percent in user satisfaction.
- The GEMS index evaluates 17 countries across 100 government services delivered through digital portals and applications.
Background
Saudi Arabia just marked its fourth year atop the Middle East and North Africa in digital government services, the Digital Government Authority (DGA) said. The 2025 Global E-Government Maturity Index (GEMS) looked at 197 cities worldwide.
The index, put together by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, picked Riyadh as home for the Global Digital Government Center, a joint effort with the UN.
The Kingdom held onto its regional lead with a 99 percent score, coming out ahead in an index that ranks 17 countries across 100 government services offered through digital platforms and apps. The outcome points to how far Saudi Arabia’s digital government has matured and its steady regional gains.
DGA Governor Ahmed Alsuwaiyan credited the result to strong backing from the Kingdom’s leadership for digital transformation, saying the government keeps refining a model built around citizens while lifting the national economy and public sector performance.
Alsuwaiyan also noted that the ranking underscores the Kingdom’s grip on emerging tools such as artificial intelligence, setting Saudi Arabia up as a reference point worldwide for business efficiency and digital economic growth.
The Kingdom posted flawless scores for service availability and public access, alongside a 99 percent mark for user satisfaction. Electronic healthcare services now allow beneficiaries to finish procedures online, while digital tools have shortened customs clearance times and sharpened transaction efficiency across public bodies.
The authority cited big data and artificial intelligence as drivers behind more proactive services, paired with stronger cybersecurity to keep access safe for citizens, residents, and visitors.
